University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
9-8,5-2MVC
Bradley
11-7,4-3MVC
UNI women’s basketball: Panthers outlast Braves inside the McLeod Center
1/18/2026 4:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Ryley Goebel dominates in a 73-70 Panther victory over Bradley.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI women's basketball hosted the Bradley Braves inside the McLeod Center on January 18. The Panthers and the Braves put on a show with 10 lead changes as well as both teams shooting over 40% from the floor. The Cats held a late lead, but the Braves had a chance to tie the contest. Two missed triples on the final possession of the matchup gave the Panthers a 73-70 victory at home.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Ryley Goebel scored the first 11 Panther points of the contest and was a perfect 4-for-4 including a three-pointer to open the contest. Bradley paced Goebel and an and-one three-pointer by the Braves right before the first-quarter media timeout gave Bradley a three-point advantage at 14-11. Goebel scored the final four points of the first quarter, which included her knocking down her second triple of the contest, to tie the matchup at 21 points after 10 minutes of play.
The Panthers edged out the Braves 16-15 in the second quarter after UNI held a seven-point advantage with a minute and a half remaining in the frame. Bradley knocked down an and-one layup and a three-pointer to close the first half. The Panthers led by one point at 37-36 after 20 minutes.
Ryley Goebel's 18 points and eight rebounds led the Panthers after the first half while Elise Jaeger had six points, three boards, and three assists.
The Panthers got out to their largest lead of the game in the third quarter with a late 11-5 run which saw eight points from Ryley Goebel. With three minutes remaining in the frame, the Panthers led the Braves 55-44. Bradley cut into the lead with a quarter-ending 10-2 run to trail by just three points at 57-54 heading into the final frame.
The Panthers came out hot in the fourth quarter with a seven-point run to open the frame and take a 10-point lead. Jenna Twedt drained a three-pointer and a pair of free throws in the run. The Braves kept battling and cut the Panther lead to one with a late five-point run. Up 68-67, the Panthers knocked down five clutch free throws to hold a 73-70 advantage with 15 seconds on the clock. The Braves had a pair of looks from deep, but could not convert on either as UNI escaped with a three-point victory.
Ryley Goebel dominated the court against the Braves with 32 points on 14-for-18 from the floor and 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. She added 12 boards, five blocks, and three steals to her totals. Jenna Twedt finished with 16 points on four triples and four free throws. Elise Jaeger led the Cats with five assists and five steals.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI improves to 9-8 on the season, 5-2 in Valley play, and 54-37 all-time against the Braves with the victory.
- The Panthers continued an active program-record 563-game three-pointer streak with six triples against the Braves.
- Ryley Goebel recorded her seventh double-double of the season and the eighth of her career with 32 points and 12 rebounds. The senior guard set career highs with her 32 points, 14 field goals, and two three-pointers and tied a career high with five blocks. Goebel's five blocks give her 200 in her career, making her just the seventh to do so in Valley history.
- The last time a Panther scored 30+ points was last season at Murray State when Maya McDermott scored 35 in a 96-91 loss in Kentucky.
- Elise Jaeger recorded a career-high five steals.
UP NEXT
The Panthers get to stay home to host the Murray State Racers on Friday, January 23. This is the first time all season the Cats have back-to-back home games. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network. UNI's matchup with Murray State features a Panther-first promotion: Panthers and Paws. Panther fans with dogs are able to bring their four-legged friends to the McLeod Center on Friday night. For information and to purchase a ticket for your pet, call the UNI ticket office at 319-273-4849.
UNI women's basketball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Women's Basketball), X (@UNIwbb), and on Instagram (@uni_wbb). The 2025-26 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
